Mail-chute.



F. J. WUBSTHOPP.

MAIL CHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.2, 1913. 1,124,095, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. J 2g Arromvfrs E. J. WUESTEJF.

Sil-AIL CHUTE.

APPLIGATION FILED DE'O. 2, 1913.

Patented Jan. 5, i915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l w/rr/Essfs ATTORHEYS :farm of. sim rami-Iseo, Camussi MAIL-CHUTE.

REISSU Specification of Letters Patent. Patente al, 1915.

TO. all whom@ may concert.: Be it Aknown that I, F lDn'iiioi 'J Wu'ifis'i- Home citizen off the United States, and a resident ofi San Francisco, in ltliefchun'ty of San Francisco and "State of California, have inadecert'ain new and useful Im rovements in Mail-Chutes, of which the fo owing is a Specification 'My invention is aniin rovenient in mail chutes,v and has for its oli i 1' je `:t t A ro'videa chute 'of the character specified, adapted f or installation in buildings, an'd 'apartinI-it houses, oi' like buildings', v 'heel `the chiite is spar-ran ed "that the mail mja terthriwn therein wlimcve frm he toni without stoppage 'orheciliiiig and wherein 1the doors are. arra "e'd in' 'such manner that they 'will oder ndli'indifance to the movement o the inail inatter, and wherein vthe chute is of such cnfstriliption that it occupies but a 'small ainoiint of space.`

A further object is to provide an iniproved construction of door, and f an iinproved niethod of arranging the glass in the door.

A further object of .the invention 1s to provide an improved lock for the doors, and to provide an improved form olfL letter drop.

In the'drawings: Figure l is a rontview of the improved chute, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 2 2, 3 3, andz 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 1, Fig. is a sectional view of 4a door loc Fig. 6 is a front View of one'of the doors, Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is an enlargedfpartial front view of the letter drop, Fig..9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig..8, and 10 is a vertical section'of Fig. 8.

In the present embodiment oi the invention the chute is of metal pressedfor otherwise shaped 'to form, the chute being elliptical or oblong in cross section, as shpwn, and the said chute is composedoi sections. The lowermost section lof the is provided with a base 2, and the upper end of the said section is flaring, as shown at 3 in Fig. 3. The'lower ends of the succeeding sections 1% are reduced and as shown at 4, to fit within the lipper haring ends?? of the preceding sections.

A collar 5 encircles the meeting ends of the sections, each collar having its outer surface plane, while its inner surface is {rustpconical, or tapering as shown, to, fit`r` the en; gaging ends.

A second collar 6 encircles the lower eri'd of the upper section, the

loweredge of the collarl 6 is designedto 'Seat on the u'p'per edge ofthe collar 5 iininediatel'y below. At the front of the chute each of the 'collars 5" is providedwith a ntcli or recess 7 on its under edge, and veach collar' 6 is provided 'with a siinilannotGh or recess 8 Aon its upper edge, the recess 8 being directly above the recess 7.

Eah'section 1 has a door opening at, its ron't, a'd each "door 4opening is designed tojbe closed by a door.` Each of tlie said d dors ,comprises a substantially rectangular f r'ahie 9,'and each o f the door openings L10 'i's 'of lesser area than the frame, so that Athe fraine 'fits' on the :outer face of the chute at.'t'he idoor opening around the same.

4It Willi-5e noted that the side members of each of the door frames is of channel malQteial (Fig. 4), the channel opening inwardly, and the inner wall of the channel of 'each frame is bent laterally at an angle tothe body portion, as shown at 1i, to fit within the door opening, while the wall' itself its against the outer face or the chute, within a rib 12. The free edge or' the outer wall of the channel of each frame is also bentjnwardly, as shown at 18, and the sheet M o`f glass or other transparent material arranged within the frame is held between the portions l1 and l2 of the channel walls. It will be noted that the side edges oii the sheet 14 are beveled inwardly, to fit snugly against the portions 11 of the frame, and thc portions 13 vof the raine bear against the outer face of the glass, sc that the glass is held 'between the side walls or the channel. Each door frame if is provided at each side with three laterally extending lugs l5, the said lugs being near the ends and intermediate the ends of the sides, and each lug is. designed to engage a clip, "secured to the chute wall at the side ofthe door opening, to hold the doorsin place. Each of the clips consists oftwo portions 16 and 1 7 odset laterally from each other, the portion 17 .of each clip being secured to the casing wall bynieans o screws or rivets 18. The portion 16 o each of trie clips is thus spaced away freni the chute wall, to receive the lug therein. Justabove the recess 7. each :.c il a iI 5 is provided with an outwardly exten 0r fm 'er Pice 1.9, endat @ech @fliesen dgqnr frarneis provided witn s }atera llg g lug 2o, the ings 2o registering com' with the lug 19 of the collar 5. The lug 19 of each collar 5 is provided with an upstanding catch or lug 2l on its upper face, and near the face of the adjacent collar 6, and the lugs 19, 2O and 21 are designed to be engaged by a fastening or latching means to hold the door in place.

Each fastening means is in the form of a plate 22 having-an opening 23 o n its inner face for receiving the lug 20 at the bottom of the do'or of one section, and a recess or opening 24C near its lower end for receiving the lug 2O at the upper end of the door of the preceding section. The plate is also provided with a recess or opening 25 between the recesses or openings 23 and 24C for receiving the lug 19 of the collar 5 between the sections.

A lock of any usual or desired construction, as for instance a Yale lock, has its barrel or cylinder 28a mounted in the plate 22, between the recesses 23 and 25, and a 1sey 26 is provided for operating the lock. llhe key is provided with the usual nger piece 27, and the barrel or cylinder 28l of the lock has a lug 28 at its inner end which is adapted to engage behind a catch or lug 21 `on the lug 19. When it is desired to 'lock the doors, the plate 22 is placed with the lugs 20 engaging the recesses 23 and 24.. The key is then inserted in the lock and turned until the lug 28 engages behind the lug 21. When the key is removed, the plate is held in place by the engagement of the lugs 21-28, and the doors are held by the engagement of the lugs 20 with the vrecesses 23 and 24. The lugs 20 thus serve as a means for permitting the doors to be latched to the collar 5, and in addition the said lugs serve as a means for lifting the doors vto disengage them from the clips 16-17. rl`he plate 22 is a cap, being of a length approximately e ual to the width of the doors. `Where the c ute passes through a oor,a plane section lb is used, and the said section may be of an desired length, and a collar 29 is arrange on the said section for engaging the ceiling to make a smooth neat t. The .collar is slidable on the section, and at the front and sides of the casing the collar is arched or bent outwardly, the lower edge of the collar fitting the section, while the upper edge is spaced apart therefrom, as shown at 30 in Figs. 1 and 2.

i A screw 31 is threaded through the collar at the front of the chute and near the upper edge of the collar, and the inner end of the screw bears against the front wall of the chute, to hold the collar in adjusted position. A strap 32 is provided at the arched out portion of lthe collar, the said strap fitting the'chute closely,'and the screw 31 is also threaded through an opening in the strap. lllliefcollar 29 may thus be' adjusted to bring the upper edge thereof closely against the ceiling. T he head 0Ip the screw 31 is countersunk, so that the outer face theregf is flush with the face o the collar.

The letter drop shown in Figs. 3, 9 and 10, is arranged in the first section oit' the chute at a height from the floor in accordance with the regulation or" the Post Ollice Department. The said drop consists ol' a casing 33 whose outer face is substantially rectangular, as shown, and the said outer face is depressed, as shown at 3%, to receive a card containing information in regard to the'times of collection. The card fits in the depression, and the casing is arranged within an opening 35 in the iront wall oic the chute section. The opposite Jfaces of the casing are inclined with respect to each other, the inner face meeting the outer face 34 at an acute'angle at the top of lthe casing. The casing 33 is so arranged with respect to the chute that the outer wall is spaced outwardly from the front face of the chute section, and the upper edge of the casing where the inner and outer walls meet at an angle is spaced away in front o the chute Wall to provide a passageway 37 for the letters. A leaf or flap 36 is hinged tothe chute wall, as indicated at 38, to close the passage 37 when desired, and the outer i edge of the said leaf or flap is adapted to rest upon the upper ed e or' the casing 33. The leaf or flap exten s inwardly beyond its pivotal connection 38, as shown in Fig. 10, and when the flap or leaf is closed, this extended portion engages beneath the sheet 39 of glass, closing the front of the chute section abve the letter drop.

The flap may be held closed by means of a locking lever 40 pivoted intermediate its ends, as indicated at 41, to the wall 42 o the chute section. The upper end or the lever is provided with a lateral lug 43, and the said upper end engages beneath the eX- tended portion of the Hap, to prevent lift-I ing of the outer edge of the flap, It will be understood that the flap 36 is normally open, being held open by the-lug 43 on the lever 40. The ilap is never closed except when it is desired to prevent the insertion of mail on an upper floor, as for instance, during the time that the chute is undergoing repairs or is bein cleaned. For instance in a ten-story bui ding should repairs be necessary at' the fifth floor the postmaster will close the letter drops above theifth until the repairs are complete. It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 10 that `the lug 43 of the lever 40. is of such length that when the outer edge of the flap 36 is i up until the rib contacts with the element 39, which is the front of the chute, the said lug will engage behind the inner edge of the Hap and will hold the aplifted. When it is desired to close the ap under access to thelever.

the conditionsv to be stated the lever 40 is swung tofoneiside to release the flapr and it is closed. To either open or close the ap'- 36, the 'panel or casing 33 is removed tov permit After the flap has been place'din desiredI positionthe' panel is 'replaced. 'lrlhenit is desired to lifttheflap, the lever is swung to disengage the upper. end thereof from the flap, after which the flap may be opened, and may be held open by swinging the lever toward the'extended edge ofthe Hap of the chute wall Y42.V

Thecasing 33 is mounted in al frame 45 having side members of channel material and having the channel inwardly. The free edge of the inner wall of the lchannel is bent at an angle to the body thereof, as shown at 46, and the casing 33 is provided with la marginal rib 44which is received between the walls of the channel of the jframe. vThe ribs 44'are rabbeted on their inner faces to fit the rear wall of the channel'and the portion 46, as indicated at 47, and the rear wall of the channel isvtraversed by screws 48 which engage in the rear face' of the rib The ree'edge of the front wall'of the channel is bent, as shown at49 to bear against the front face of the rib 44, at ithe junction of the said rib Iwith the casing. Thus the casing is held firmly in place within the frame.

The plane section l", before mentioned, is'connected to the' next lower. section by meansof a collar 50. The said collar at the rear of the chute is' extended downwardly, as shown at 51, in Fig. 2, and the extension is provided with openings 52 for receiving screws or the like to connect the collar to a wall. At alljoints with the 'chute the u per member of the joint extends inwardly. yond the lower member, as shown ,for instance in Fig. 10, where the sheet 39 extends inwardly beyond the chute wall 42,andlthe lower end ofthe casing 33 extends inwardly beyond the sheet 53 of glass arranged below thedrop. i

It will be noted` that where the chute passesthrough a 'loor, there is a collar 29 below the door, and a base 2 above the ioor. The base 2 may be separate 'from the chute, fitting over-the chute in the same manner as the collar 29. Intermediate the upper and lower faces of the floor is found the joint between the sections. I

' The base 2 resembles the collar 29, in that it fits the chute closely at one end, the other end being .offset outwardly away from the chute at the front thereof. At the rear of the chute the base iits the chute closely from one end of the base to the other, in the same manner as `the collar 29. The base at the outwardly offset portion may be arranged inthe same manner as the collar, as shown in Fig. 2, having astrap for engaging the front of the chute.

' for engaging one i of the I claim: 1. A" mail chute comprising sections of metal and of substantially elliptical cross section', eachsection' having its upper end vflaring, and v'each succeeding section having its lower end tapering to fit within the flaring upper end offjthe' preceding section, a collar encircling tlie 'upper'end' of each section at the ii'a'ringfportion; each collar having a lug at the front of the`chute,a collar encircling the lower end of each section above the tapering portion, the sections having openings'in their Yfronts, and door framesfitting outside ofthe openings, each' door frame having a lug at-feach end, and afastening means for the adjacent 'frame at the' juncl.

tion' ofthe sections', 'eachof the said astening means comprising a 'plate having recesses in its inner facevfor receiving the lug ofthe collar and the lugs at the lower endof the hext upper' door and at the upper end of the next lower door, the lug' of the collar having an up'standing'catchv on 'its upper face, the fastening means comprising a barrel or 'bolt mounted to rotate in the casing and having a lugforengagingi'behind the catch and adapted to be'operated by the key, a vbit for engaging behind the catch.'

- 2. Ay mail -chutecomprising sections of metall-and of substantially elliptical-cross section, eachsection having its upper end ilaring, a`nd each succeeding sectionhaving its lower end tapering to fit Within the flaring lupper end of the preceding section, a collar encircling thev upperl endof eachsec- -tion at the flaring portion, the sections having door openingsvv in their fronts, door framesfor closing the openings, the sections having catches andthe door .frames having lugsv for engaging the catches to hold the doors in place, each door frame having -a. lateral lug at each of itsends, and each collar having a lug at thel front. thereof and registeringwith 'thelugs of the adjacent door frames, a lock casing having recesses lor receiving the lugs of the collarv and the adjacent lugs of the door frames, and a key journaled in the casing and having means llugs toglock the casing in place.

3. A vmail chute comprising sectionsfof metal and of substantially elliptical cross section, each section havingits upper end flaring, and Seach succeeding section having its lower end tapering to fit within the ilaring upper end of the preceding section, a collar encircling the upper end of each section at the flaring portion, the sections having door 'openings in their fronts, door frames for closing the openings,- the sections having catchesiand the door frames having lugs or'engaging the catches to hold the doors in place, each door frame having a lateral lug at each of its ends; and each collar having a 'lug at the front thereof and registering with the lugs of the adjacent door frames, and locking means for engaging the lug of the collar and`the adjacent lugs of the door ,frames ,to lock said door frames to the lugs.

'4. A mail chute -comprising sections of metal of substantially elliptical cross section, each section having its upper end' flaring, and each succeeding section having its lower end tapering to ft within the iaring upper end of the preceding section, a collar encircling theupper end of each section at the Haring portion, the sections having door openings in their fronts, door frames for closing the openings, the ysections having catches and the door frames'having/lugsfor engaging the catches to hold the doors in place, and a fastening means for engagin the collar and the adjacent ends of the adjacent door frames to hold the said door frames in place.

A mail chute comprising sections of metal of substantial-ly elliptical cross section, each section having its upper end iar ing, and each succeeding sectionhaving its lower end tapering to t within the flaring upper end of theI preceding section, a collar encircling the upper end of each section at the flaring portion, and a second collar encircling the lower end of each section and abutting the upper edge of the first-named collar.

6. A mail chute comprising sections arranged one' above the other, each section 'having its upper end flaring and each succeedjng section havingits lower end tapering to lit within the preceding section, a collar encircling the upper end of each section at the Haring portion, a collar seated on the lower end of each succeedingl section and abutting the collar of the preceding section,

sundry of the sections having door openings,

,and door frames for closing the openings, said frames being of greater length than the openings and extending above and below the openings, each frame having lugs at its ends, and the first-named collar having a lug between the lugs of adjacent doors, and fastening means engaging the lug of each collar and the adj acentlugs of the adjacent doorsl for holding the doors in place.

7. A mail chute comprising sections arranged one above the other, each section having its upper end flaring and each 'succeeding section having its lower end tapering to fit within the preceding section, a collar encircling the upper end of each section at the flaring portion, a collar seated on the lower end of each succeeding section and abutting the collar' of the preceding section.

FREDERICK JOHN WUES'IHOFF.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WERNES, P. L. ENNOR. 

